Gate latch



Jan. 17, 1928; 1,656,305 J. A. TILTON V GATE LATCH Filed NOV 11, 1924 INUEN TDH JUH ALBERT TJLTUM BY i ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES GATE LATCH.

, Application filed November 11, 1824. Serial No. 749,140.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in a gate and has for its primary object the provision of a Numerous gates have been designed for this purpose, but inherent inadequacies reside therein which are subversive to their use and from a manufacturing view point, due to the fact that children can climb over the same. or the gate is costly to manufacture, unduly heavy, and cumbersome to handle.

In view of the foregoing my invention has for its object the provision of a gate, constituting a very light and durable construction, so designed that it is practically impossible for a small child to climb the same or to flex and open it, the same being constructed of material compatable from a weight view-point with gates of this character now commercially available.

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of a gate so constructed that it may be compactly collapsed by elevating the same towards a post or wall and subsequently swinging it laterally and looking it in such collapsed position.

The invention is further characterized in that even gates of considerable length such as used on porches may be made light in Weight and very durable in construction, and practically impossible for a child to force open when locked.

With the foregoingand other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of cooperating elements as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present application and in which:

45 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the gate, showing the same retained in closed position.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the gate in partially raised collapsed position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective of the spring latch employed for holding firmly the gate in closed position.

Referring more in detail to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the 55 different views, it will be noted that the gate includes gate uprights 5 having their ends pivoted in the bevelled upper and lower gate members 6.. The double upper and lower gate members 6 are each formed of a pair of spaced parallel strips and held together only by the pivots 7 extended therethrough and through the gate upright 5. members 8 are extended laterally from the upright 5 at one end of the gate and mounted on the hinge rod 9.' It will beseen clearly from Figs. 1 and 2 that the hinge rod 9 is extended vertically through the supporting member 10 projecting laterally from the gate post 11 on which the gate is mounted.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that a gale may be firmly held in closed position by the spring latch member 12 which is pivotally mounted on a supporting post 13, which may be readily secured against a support 14; at the other side of the gate opening and fastened to the floor surface by angular securing brackets 15 carried at the lower end of the post 13,01 by other suitable means. The post 13 has a longitudinal vertical tongue 16 formed on one face, over which are engaged the projecting ends of the strips forming the double upper and lower members 6 of the gate, when the gate is in closed position. The latch mem- .ber 12 is mounted on the post 13 by a pivot 17 and has an upwardly offset forwardend 18 with its free extremity 19 turned downwardly. The other end is rounded and bifurcated to provide the end slot 21 which receives the latch spring 22 carried on the rear side of the post 13 and projecting upwardly-through the elongated slot 23 in the stationary guide plate 24 which is mounted in the upper end of the post 13, beneath the latch plate 12 and projects past the end thereof, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. It will also be seen from Fig. 3 that the latch spring 22 has its lower end 25 turned and secured in the post 13 and the latch spring 22 is held in lace against the rear side of the post 13 by a fastening member 26. It is, therefore, evident that the latch spring 22 is normally in operative position and when the pivoted latch member 12 is turned on its pivot 17 to normal or operative position with the offset end 18 firmly engaged over the gate upright 5 at the free end of the gate, the latch spring 22 Will be engaged in the slot 21. 1

When it is desired to release the gate to permit opening thereof, the latch spring'22 is drawn back at its upper end to releasev PATENT OFFICE.

Hinge the pivoted latch member 12, after which the latter may be turned to one side and the gate raised sufliciently at its free end to avoid the tongue 16 and the gate then raised to its collapsed position and swung to one side, as desired. Whenever the gate is to be locked firmly in closed position, the gate is first closed on the tongue 16 and the pivoted latch member 12 then turned on its pivot 17 to normal or operative position over the upper end of the standard 5 at the free end of the gate, as shown in the drawings. Owing to the end 30 of the pivoted latch member 13 being rounded, the pivoted latch member 12 may be readily swung to operative position on its pivot 17 without employing the hand or other means to engage the latch spring 522 and .vithdraw the upper end of the same 7 from the pivoted latch member 12, as it will be automatically forced outwardly by the rounded end 20 of the pivoted latch member 12 as the latter swings to operative position and will then tall into the slot 21.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the gate disclosed in the accompanying specifications and drawings en'ibodies numerous advantages over gates heretofore designed, due to the fact that the gate, when in closed position, cannot he climbed by a child, nor can it be forced open when used in conjunction with the latch and the locking structure disclosed. Flll'tllfiilHIUlO, when the gate is collapsed, it may be elevated to the side of the opening as shown in Fig. 2 to permit a person to pass, and when it is desired to lock the gate in open position, it may be compactly folded, swung laterally and locked in such position.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of co-operating elements may be resorted to within the scope of what is claimed, without departing i'rom the spirit of the intention.

What 1. claim as new is:

In comhimition with a folding gate structure hinged at one side to be tilted upwardly; a latch post; a vertical tongue on the inner side oi said post, engageable by said gate structure when in closed position to prohibit. lateral movement of the same; a latch pivotully mounted on said post; one end of said latch being adapted to be swung over the tree end or said gate structure to prohibit upward tilting of the same and a means for retaining said latch in position.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

JOHN ALBERT TILTON. 

